“We have to get him out of here now. He’s weak and needs help.”
“Okay, search the room for anything you think he may need, passport, anything, because chances are it won’t be here in the morning. Which is actually only a couple of hours away,” he said, looking out the window.
She ran, taking his phone with her, pulling out drawers, looking in closets and cabinets and then under the bed. She pulled out the bag she found under there and stuffed the few pitiful items she’d found into it.
“Okay, I think that’s it, but I left the clothes.”
The door opened as she spoke and in walked two men. They were in the shadows, so Ethan couldn’t see their faces.
“He’s not leaving without paying what he owes me,” one of them said.
“I’ll pay you, but not until we’re at the car,” Ethan said as he bent to pick up Cooper and then moved to stand before the two men. “Annabelle, come here.” Ethan kept his voice steady, and she quickly moved in behind him and gripped his belt loop again.
“If you try anything, I’ll shoot you all,” one of the men said.
Now that he was closer Ethan could see them. One wore a suit, the other casual clothes. He was guessing the suit was the boss.
Ethan didn’t speak again, just headed for the door. He figured if he kept moving they’d either follow or shoot him. He was hoping for the first option, so he walked around them and out the door with Cooper in his arms. Annabelle’s brother weighed less than Mikey, and his head rolled from side to side as Ethan moved. He was still breathing, but Ethan believed only just. Once they were in the hallway he pulled Annabelle in front of him, feeling the tension in her body as it passed his.
“It’s okay now. Just do exactly as I say. Lead the way now out now, Annabelle.”
They walked slowly. The only sound was Cooper’s breath as he struggled to draw each one into this body. The silent procession made its way to the front entrance of the building and Ethan noticed the sky was lighter as they stepped outside. He kept walking until they reached the SUV.
“Open the door, Annabelle.” She hurried to do as he asked. “Now get in and I’ll pass Cooper to you.”
“What are you going to do now?” She looked at him as he placed Cooper gently into her arms.
“Here’s the keys. Now if anything goes wrong, you get in the front and drive to the airfield, and don’t stop.” Ethan whispered the words. “The pilot has instructions to get you out of here if need be.”
“No! I won’t leave without you.” She gripped the edge of his jacket.
“You promised you would do exactly what I asked of you.” He looked into her beautiful brown eyes. “You need to promise me, sweetheart.”
“I-I can’t. Don’t make me leave you.”
“Get out here now before I start shooting!”
Ethan removed her fingers from his jacket. “You run if I tell you, or if you hear gunshots,” he said before he got back out of the SUV.
“I have the money under my shirt, so don’t shoot me while I get it,” he said as he moved away from the door.
Neither man spoke as he pulled each wad of cash out and handed it over, then the suit counted it on the hood. When he was finished, he came back to stand in front of Ethan.
“I’m telling you this because you paid his debts and I don’t want to see his face in this town again,” the man in the suit said.
Ethan nodded as his stomach clenched. This was not going to be good news.
“You need to know that I’m not the only one he owes money to, and the other guy, Jenson, he’s a mean sucker. Cooper owes him a shitload more than this.” He pointed to the cash the other man was now collecting off the hood. “So take my advice and leave now and get as far away as you can,” he said, and then they both headed back across the street and climbed into a long black limo.
Drawing in a lungful of much needed air, Ethan got into the driver’s seat. He spun the wheels as he sped out of town and back to the airstrip. They’d be safe once they got back to Howling; he had to believe that.
Annabelle said in a wobbling voice, “I was so scared when you got out. What you said to me about leaving you…”
He felt her hand on his shoulder and placed one of his over it briefly before returning it to the steering wheel. “It’s okay.”
“Cooper’s bad, Ethan, really bad.” He could hear that fear again, fear that a sister felt for the brother she loved. “We need to get him to a hospital fast.”
“Not here. That guy said to leave town now because Cooper’s made some enemies and if they find out he’s running, they’ll come after him. So unless you think he’s going to die without hospital care, you need to tell me what he needs to get him home, and I’ll see you get it.”
